Travel Like a Pro: Loyalty Programs, Lounges, Upgrades and Seats

Travelling can be a really stressful time, from getting to the airport and the long queues at check-in, to going through security only to discover to your horror that your airline has lost your luggage. But it's not just airports and airlines which stack on the pressure on the road. Have you ever arrived at a hotel after a long-haul flight only to be told your room isn't ready? Or, worse still, that they don't have any record of your reservation, and the hotel is fully booked that night? As well as racking up the air miles, frequent travellers quickly learn the ropes of getting from A to B to C, and enjoying their stay and their travels as painlessly as possible. For infrequent travellers, however, there are plenty of tips and tricks anyone can use to improve their traveller status, and give off the appearance that they are travelling like a pro.

Join the clubs

Our top tip is to join a frequent flyer program. There are potentially many benefits to be enjoyed, especially if you travel long haul at least several times a year. For one, you will collect miles or points when you fly with the airline or its partners, which could lead to a reward flight down the track, or an upgrade from economy to premium economy, or even business class. Frequent flyer programs also have a line-up of additional benefits depending on how many miles you earn and the level of your membership status, for example earning additional miles through a program's partners, from car rental companies to hotel groups and more. The details vary from program to program and change over time, so read the current rules of the ones you join.

And when it comes to hotels, it's a great idea to join hotel loyalty clubs. These are programs offered by hotel groups, with various perks for members such as late check-outs and room upgrades, and like airline frequent flyer programs, if an upgrade is on the cards, members generally stand a better chance of receiving one than non-members.

If you travel in economy class more than a couple of times a year, including long haul, consider joining an airport lounge club, or a lounge group membership such as Priority Pass. These lounges offer a quiet place to wait before, or in between, flights, typically with drinks, food and Wi-Fi access included so you can check your email or surf the internet, and sometimes showers to freshen up in.

The upgrade game

Airlines handle upgrades in different ways. Depending on the carrier and booking, options may include points-based requests, upgrade bids, paid offers close to departure or, more rarely, an operational move when a cabin is oversold. Availability, fare eligibility and loyalty status may affect priority, but no upgrade should be assumed. Check the airline's current upgrade rules for your booking.

Choose your seat carefully

Choosing where to sit on a plane can make a huge difference to your comfort, especially when travelling long haul. Different aircraft have different seat configurations, and some seats in economy are also better than others when it comes to the level of recline, or the quietness of the location. Another great tip for economy travellers is to select or request an exit-row seat before you fly, for more legroom. Many airlines today allow you to select these in advance. You will also need to meet the airline's exit row requirements, which typically include that you are not travelling with anyone who may need your assistance, and that you can carry out certain tasks in an emergency if required.

More from UTM: 18 Practical Cruise Tips and Your Skin and Travel: A Q&A with Zoe Devine.

Editor's note. This article brings together UTM's original Travel Like a Pro feature, first published in two parts, into a single piece. Consolidated and fact-checked on 22 September 2026.